amounted to thirty thousand
pounds. The possession of such a fortune, of which he was absolute
master, did not at all contribute to the humiliation of his spirit, but
inspired him with new ideas of grandeur and magnificence, and elevated
his hope to the highest pinnacle of expectation.

His domestic affairs being settled, he was visited by almost all
the gentlemen of the county, who came to pay their compliments of
congratulation on his accession to the estate; and some of them offered
their good offices towards a reconciliation betwixt his father and him,
induced by the general detestation which was entertained for his brother
Gam, who was by this time looked upon by his neighbours as a prodigy
of insolence and malice. Our young squire thanked them for their kind
proposal, which he accepted; and old Gamaliel, at their entreaties,
seemed very well disposed to any accommodation: but as he would not
venture to declare himself before he had consulted his wife, his
favourable disposition was rendered altogether ineffectual, by the
instigations of that implacable woman; and our hero resigned all
expectation of being reunited to his father's house. His brother,
as usual, took all opportunities of injuring his character, by false
aspersions, and stories misrepresented, in order to prejudice his
reputation; nor was his sister Julia suffered to enjoy her good fortune
in peace. Had he undergone such persecution from an alien to his blood,
the world would have heard of his revenge; but, notwithstanding
his indignation, he was too much tinctured by the prejudices of
consanguinity, to lift his arm in judgment against the son of his own
parents; and this consideration abridged the term of his residence at
the garrison, where he had proposed to stay for some months.

VOLUME II.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

The young Gentleman, having settled his domestic Affairs, arrives
in London, and sets up a gay Equipage--He meets with Emilia, and is
introduced to her Uncle.

His aunt, at the earnest solicitations of Julia and her husband, took
up her quarters at the house of that affectionate kinswoman, who made
it her chief study to comfort and cherish the disconsolate widow; and
Jolter, in expectation of the living, which was not yet vacant, remained
in garrison, in quality of land-steward upon our hero's country estate.
As for the lieutenant, our young gentleman communed with him in a
serious manner, about the commodore's proposal of